Insider’s guide to Portugal
Portugal - with it’s endless coastline, colorful tiles, budding food scene and castles in every direction - I’ve called Portugal home for the past two summers. Now it’s time to share some of it’s magic with you.
Restaurants in Lisbon
Fine Dining and Experiences
Lisbon fine dining is a mix of different worlds. Check out: Cafe Sao Bento, JNcQUOI Asia, XXL by Oliver (for lunch), Alma, Encanto, Black Pavilion at Torel Palace (best views of Lisbon) and Eritage Art Project (part gallery, wine bar, sourdough pizza, oysters and pop-up dinners with Lisbon’s star chefs)
Best (not) on the typical Tourist Radar
I’m happiest discovering new restaurants and with Lisbon’s new food scene, there were so many options to try, here are a few of my favorites that I returned to time and time again: Bar Alimentar, Tricky’s, Salta, Cosmo, VDB Bistronomie & Flamma. Best Gelato: Nannarella (worth standing in line for)
Cocktails & Wine
Uva Livre, Tati Lisbon, Senhor Uva, A Viagem das horas, Bom Bom Bom & Rocco
(Suggestion: hang out at Jardim Fialho de Almeida on Friday and Saturday nights and bar hop)
Breakfast & Matcha
ALBI Lisboa, The Coffee, Neighborhood Cafe, Cafe Sao, Ceres Boulangerie
The Best of Lisbon
Art
Lisbon has a great mix of galleries and museums - here are my personal favorites: Eritage Art Projects (tell Johnny & Bruno I sent you), MUDE (amazing rooftop and exhibits in the heart of Chiado), MAAT (great view of Lisbon, great restaurant), Gulbenkian (CAM) amazing grounds for picnics and outdoor concerts and Museum of Contemporary Art - MAC/CCB
Neighborhoods
For more of a Brooklyn/SF away from tourists vibe: Estrela, Princple Real (stop by Shon Mott for amazing clothes from Spain), Santos, Lapa, Marvila (take a walk through 8 Marvila) and you must walk down Ave da Liberdade (stop by Next Memory for luxury scents - most of my gifts come from here!)
My advice, have dinner somewhere and just walk.
Stay
One of my favorite hotels in Lisbon that I will come back to time and time again: The One Palacio da Anunciada, These are on my list for my next visit: The Four Seasons Ritz, Hotel Das Amoreiras and Torel Palace Lisbon
Beauty
Nails: Nail Club Lisbon (no walk-in’s) it’s been my go-to since Summer 2024. Ask for Isabel at Skin Life Chiado for a life changing facial (she’s the only person allowed to touch my face while in the EU). Gym: Training Club Chiado is where I work out - they have day passes.
The best of:Comporta, Caparica & Cascais
Comporta
The home of all of the chic beach clubs, considered the ‘Hamptons’ of Europe. It’s worth renting a car so you can hang out in the town and find some authentic Portuguese food within the city and outside of the beach clubs.
Favorite Beach Clubs:
Caparica
The closest beach area across the bridge from Lisbon - it’s only a 20 min drive (depending on which beach club you visit). There are a few that have amazing food and dj’s, other’s are over hyped. The best one burned down around January. You can take an uber from Lisbon if you don’t rent a car.
Favorite Beach Club with Food/DJ:
Princesa Caparica (one of the oldest beach club)
Cascais
Cascais is gorgeous, but quiet. Tons of sushi places in town, but the real gems are along the coastline. My favorite is Porto Santa Maria, right on the water, amazing seafood and the staff…well you’ll see! Also on my list for next summer: Conceito, Izakaya and Kappo.
